A growing passion for community has allowed Mona Vale teen Tilly Cooper to inspire others to step up and make a difference. This is the second in our female changemaker series.
Those that say youth is wasted on the young clearly haven’t met Tilly Rose Cooper. At just 14 years old, she is busy making waves both in her hometown of Mona Vale as a Nippers volunteer and author, and far beyond with the My Fijian Clothes Drive.
Tilly, soon to start Year 9 at Brigidine College, tells PL that this compassion for helping others has always been in her nature. “Even when I was younger, I enjoyed getting involved in community activities and doing small acts of kindness wherever I could. I’ve always loved helping others. Finding ways, big or small, to make a positive impact has always made me feel happy and giving back has felt natural,” says Tilly. She describes herself as a ‘passionate young changemaker dedicated to helping others in a meaningful way.’
Growing up close to the water on the Northern Beaches with parents Allison and Kai and sister Olivia, Tilly is a regular visitor to the beach, counting swimming (and shopping) amongst her top hobbies. She followed in the footsteps of her father and grandfather – both long-time Mona Vale SLSC members – and became an Under 6 Nipper.
A few years on and it was this love of the water and eagerness to ensure younger children were safe at the beach, that inspired her to become an age manager for Under 6s at Mona Vale Nippers each Sunday, where she also supports Nippers’ inclusion members – those with a disability or needing additional help. “Sundays are genuinely my favourite days of the week because I get to be part of something meaningful and make a positive difference.”
A local from Tagaqe village carrying home a box of swimwear Tilly brought over from the Northern Beaches
‘There aren’t many 13-year-olds who come back from a holiday in Fiji with a mission to give back.’
Jacqui Scruby Pittwater MP
It was a holiday to Fiji with her family that kicked off Tilly’s most ambitious project. She saw that many local children did not have proper, sun-safe swimwear and many were swimming in their clothes or school uniform – something she knew was a drowning hazard from her work at Nippers. “When I visited Tagaqe Village, I saw first-hand how even small donations of swimwear could make a big difference,” she says.
“Meeting local families made me realise how important proper swimwear is for safety,” explains TIlly. “Being in the position where I see how much swimwear we use on the Northern Beaches, I wanted to do something meaningful with it, especially using my connections to surf clubs.” She set about rallying her school and local community, encouraging people to clear out their children’s outgrown swimwear, rashies, wetsuits, hats and thongs and donate them to her cause.
Tilly (bottom right) with Fijian children in their new swimwear
Local surf clubs from Palm Beach to Collaroy got behind her efforts and became collection points for people to drop off the gently used or new items. “With so many of us getting new swimmers because we have outgrown our other ones, I thought it would be good to repurpose these and save them from landfill,” she says. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children gave me so much joy and will always motivate me to keep helping others.”
Tilly is now an Ambassador for the Kimaya Brighter Minds Program in Fiji, which promotes the intellectual development of students at Coral Coast resorts.
The inspirational clothing drive drew much acclaim on the Beaches and beyond, with Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby recognising Tilly in parliament with a community recognition statement, saying that she ‘embodies the Spirit of Pittwater.’ “There aren’t many 13-year-olds who come back from a holiday in Fiji with a mission to give back to the community they have visited. Tilly is a changemaker – making a difference in our community as a member of Mona Vale SLSC and beyond,” says Ms Scruby.
Tilly (front) delivering a palette of beach wear to Tagaqe village in Fiji
“Getting involved allows people to grow, build confidence and develop a sense of responsibility.”
Tilly Cooper
Tilly also scooped a national leadership prize, winning top place in The Global Leadership Network’s Next Gen Step-Up Challenge, which invited young people to share their impact in 60-second short films, capturing what it means to step up and lead for others. Tilly’s film will now be shown in schools across Australia and New Zealand as part of the 2026 Next Gen curriculum, inspiring more than 14,000 young people each year to lead positively in their schools, communities and beyond.
“My husband and I are incredibly proud of Tilly,” her mother, Allison says. “We admire her ability to communicate with people on all levels, her compassion for her community and determination to make a difference. She shows creativity in finding ways to help, resilience when faced with challenges, and leadership in inspiring others to get involved.
“We also see the joy and pride she feels when she gives back – it’s clear that helping others truly makes her happy.”
But there will be no rest to reflect on past success for Tilly – instead it’s onwards and upwards, with the launch of her new book, A Day of New Adventures, and a host of ambitious plans. “I’m excited to continue giving back in a new way,” she states. “My book helps young people build confidence in the water, and I wanted to share my journey, which is based on my first day at Nippers, because it reflects values that matter deeply to me – community, confidence, family, and safety. It also celebrates our coastline and the sense of belonging that comes with trying something new. This book is for every child stepping into the waves for the first time.”
The story follows new Nipper Emily, exploring themes of trust, courage, friendship, family values and water safety. Illustrated by Mona Vale SLSC member Richard Perry, the book aims to inspire families to discover the Nippers program together and help children build confidence in and around the ocean.
Over the course of the year ahead, Tilly hopes to ‘expand my impact’ and discover media opportunities through which she can inspire other young people to get involved in helping their communities. “Especially with the social media ban, I think it’s a great opportunity for my generation to focus on making a positive difference in real life with real projects,” she says.
“Getting involved allows people to grow, build confidence and develop a sense of responsibility. It also teaches them empathy, teamwork and how their actions can make a real difference in the lives of others.”